It doesn't get more German than SODOM. They're filthy, mean and raw. Still they're seen as national legends and the greatest thing that ever has come out of the most smog infested parts of the Ruhr area, Gelsenkirchen. But with "In War And Pieces" something has happened to this trio. SODOM's trademark sound is gone, the primitive and simple but very effective picture has been changed towards a much more modern sound. Waldemar Sorychta (ENEMY OF THE SUN, GRIP INC) who has produced the album can be blamed or celebrated for that. I haven't really decided yet. There's no doubt about that the sound and production is superb but is it really SODOM? Since this band has been just as trustworthy as MOTÖRHEAD in keeping to their style over the years "In War And Pieces" is quite a big change because it's not only the sound that has changed. Here and there, there are traces of more technical parts, stylish productions with layers of guitars and harmonies. The intro to the title track sounds so much Waldemar, that was my first thought before even realizing he had produced the album. The same song sounds a lot more like SLAYER than SODOM, the same goes for "Hellfire". Now, SLAYER is never something to complain about but again, it's not SODOM. I even started to wonder if I've gotten the wrong record.

The main part of the album do sound very much like SODOM normally do though, primitive and straight forward riffs without much fines or frills. Even if the production still differs, it's much more cleaned up and maybe a little too tidy. Maybe it's just my expectations that haunt me and I'm being over critical. "In War And Pieces" does fit into the catalogue, more like "Better Of Dead" or "M-16" rather than the previous more brutal, self-titled release.

For me I like the rougher and more brutal SODOM sound more, I want them to be primitive. This album, despite it sounds amazing, is too polished for me. If this is the direction the band wants for the future I have to re-evaluate because it does sound good. "Through Toxic Veins" and "Storm Raging Up" is as much SODOM as it gets when it comes to riff and song structures but it doesn't really sound like the band I've known for years.

The new SODOM album "In War And Pieces" is a major departure from their previous albums, but it still rocks. There isn't as much 'Thrash' as their used to be, but it is still there. They have also changed their sound to be a bit more modern. After being around for decades, why even bother changing the sound of your albums? I don't get it, but then I am not Onkel Tom either. The album gets better the more you listen to it. At first, I thought the change was far more jarring than it actually is. Tom has found a new way to vocalize. You can still tell who it is, but he sounds different than before. It is hard for me to put my finger on exactly what it is. It could just be studio magic. I hope this is their first and last attempt at this new direction. When I put on a SODOM album, I expect it to thrash from beginning to end. SODOM is not METALLICA and I don't want them to be. Adding complexity to impress people that aren't the ones buying the albums makes no sense to me.

I don't think the old school SODOM fans are going to be impressed with the new varied tempos and pacings. Maybe we just want some pure unflinching Thrash from start to finish. Is that too much to ask?

The first half of the album does indeed thrash, but the second half does not. I don't know who chose the song ordering, but it is done as if to show that there are two separate albums at work here. Color me disappointed, but not enough to abandon them like I did METALLICA when they pulled "Nothing Else Matters" on me. I have never forgiven them for that and I never will. I will give SODOM another chance, but just one. If they pull this one on me again, I am done.

The return of the war machine from Germany brought us a new horrific message in the image of "In War And Pieces". The newfound war of SODOM, one of the members of the holy German Thrash triplet with KREATOR and DESTRUCTION, gave us something to remember from 2010. After three years, the craving for some new SODOM blood almost unbearable. With the coming of "In War And Pieces", I have to admit that SODOM satisfied my appetite for good hard breaking German Thrash.

You can't argue with experience, SODOM learned how to please their fans and that is why their Thrash stayed old school, brutal (even though it's not the Black/Thrash we knew in the mid 80's) and merciless. In terms of production, the album's producer, Waldemar Sorychta, ensured that SODOM will get an old school type of sound as it is open, crunchy, accurate but dirty. There is a nice resemblance to 90's era ACCEPT, GRAVE DIGGER and 00's REBELLION. However, unlike those bands, this is old school Thrash I am talking about. You just can't ask for a better landscape to carve up your songs on.

"In War And Pieces" is the aggression, the boundaries of the use of power in our world, in several ways SODOM showed how brutal we can really get. I found amazing tracks as "In War And Pieces", "Through Toxic Veins", "Storm Raging Up", "Soul Contraband", "God Bless You" and "Styptic Parasite", the true face of society and probably our own ignorance to some of sickening elements. SODOM, as other Metal bands, showed what is behind the reality shit we watching on TV. You can say that "In War And Pieces", besides being a great album and one of SODOM's great performances to date, is the ugly side of the truth, which is the current state of our world. If you see this album, buy it without hesitation. In addition, you will get the traditional German song as always on the band's albums.

The world maybe has ugly and good sides, but SODOM's new album will focus on what's band because people once again have to know about it. This is no "Agent Orange" but you can't find a suitable reason why not to enjoy the music and the undying energy of a veteran Thrash band at one of its peek performances.